Four-Panel Folding Brass and Mesh Fireplace Screen (minor dents to brass)

This four-panel folding fireplace screen in brass and metal mesh is a characteristic example of the French decorative metalsmith’s art at the turn of the twentieth century. In its articulated form — four hinged brass-framed panels that fold flat for storage and open to provide a generous barrier across the fireplace opening — it combines practicality with the ornamental sensibility of the Belle Époque, a period in which even the most functional domestic objects were expected to contribute to the decorative unity of the interior.

Brass was the material of choice for fireplace accessories of quality during this period, its warm golden tone complementing the polished fire irons, grates and fenders of the late Victorian and Edwardian hearth. The fine metal mesh panels, stretched taut within the brass frames, provide effective protection against sparks while remaining visually light and transparent, allowing the fire to be appreciated while the room is kept safe. The folding construction, with its practical accordion form, was a standard type that could be found in the finest Parisian households of the period.

At 55.5 centimetres wide when folded, 51.5 centimetres in height and 25 centimetres in depth, the screen is well proportioned for a standard fireplace. The brass shows minor dents consistent with age and use — honest marks of a long and well-served life at the hearth.

A handsome and functional antique fireplace accessory. Good vintage condition with minor dents to brass as noted. Dimensions (folded): 55.5 × 25 × 51.5 cm.